Coupling



1943. w. c. IFTIGER, SR 2,327,714

COUPLING Filed June 4, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f a I ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 24, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,327,714 COUPLING.William C. Iftiger, Sr., Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

Application .l'unc l, 1940, Serial No. 338,776

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a coupling, and has aparticularly importantapplication in the coupling of ahose or iiuidconduit to a faucet, pipe,or other fluid conducting means. Some of the features disclosed in thisapplication are described and claimed in my copending patentapplication, Serial No. 289,965, of which this application is acontinuation in part.

It is an object oi'my invention to provide a coupling which can beconveniently and rapidly connected and disconnected. I

Another object is to provide a threaded female coupling member whichis'adapted to be connected to a threaded male member such as the outletof a faucet, a pipe, or the like, by simply pushing the female memberover the threads of the male member, may be tightened to make afluid-tight connection by turning the female member through a fractionof one turn, the two members being securely held in coupled relationagainst any accidental uncoupling, but being adapted to be uncoupledv bysimply turning the female member through a fraction of a turn relativeto the male member and then pulling it straight off or oil at an anglerelative to the male member.

Another object is to provide a threaded female coupling member that canbe partially engaged upon a threaded male member at an angle there toand quickly aligned to thethreads thereof.

Other objects are to provide a quickly connectible threaded couplingthat has the strength of a common screw type coupling having the samenumber of threads of the same dimension, but which requires only afraction of one turn in making a tight connection; and to provide aquickly connectible threadedcoupling that can be readily converted intoa common screw type coupling by simply moving a sliding collar of thedevice to its forward stop and leaving it in this position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coupling which isadapted to tighten satisfactorily on male members of slightly differentdiameters.

Another object is to provide a female coupling member containinginternally threaded jaws which are expanded radially outward against arestricting surface by action of cam surfaces when, in tightening, thejaws are moved axially forward. 7

Another object is to provide a female coupling member containing aplurality of internally threaded jaws adapted to mate witha threadedmale member and which have lugs in sliding. and

rotative engagement with a tightening collar surrounding the jaws.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a coupling that isadapted for cheap manu facture on a large production basis, that isdependable in its operation, and is durable and of long life.

These and other apparent objects are attained in a manner that will beclear from consideration of the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a view, partially in section, of one form of my coupling,taken along the line ll of Fig. 2, showing the female coupling member intightened coupled relation with a threaded male member.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the coupling in the relation shown in Fig.1, taken along the line 2-2.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the coupling in the relation shown in Fig.1, taken along the line 3-3.

Fig. l is a View, partially in cross-section, of the coupling of Fig. 1,showing the threaded female coupling member being installed over athreaded male member in the act of coupling the male and female members.

Fig. 5 is a view, partially in section, of the coupling of Fig. 1, takenon the same section lines as Fig. 1, showing the female member in,position over the male member, and with the parts in position for, butprior to tightening.

Fig. 6 is a view, partially in section, of an alternative form ofcoupling, showing the female member in tightened coupled relation with athreaded male member, the section being taken along the line 6-6 of Fig.7.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the coupling of Fig. 6 in the relationshown therein, and taken along the line l-l.

Fig. 8 is a view, partially in section, of an alternative form ofcoupling, showing the female member in tightened coupled relation with athreaded male member, the section being taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the coupling of Fig. 8 in the relationshown therein, and taken along the line 9-4.

While the coupling of my invention is adapted to connect a member of anycharacter to any threaded male member of suitable dimensions, whether ornot the members to be connected are provided with fluid passagestherethrough, I have chosen to disclose herein that important embodimentof my invention in which a female forward end of the m coupling memberhaving a fluid passage therethrough is rotatably connected to a fluidconduit such as a hose, or other means such as a fluid conducting memberhaving either a male or female threaded surface thereon, and is adaptedto be coupled to a threaded male member It having a fluid passage I itherethrough and which may constitute the connecting part of a Valve orfaucet, or the end of a pipe or hose, or the like.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-5, the female coupling member,designated generally by the numeral 52, is rotatably connected to amember 13 having a fluid passage I l therethrough and being threaded onits exterior at It": to form a male thread which may, if desired, bescrewed intothe ordinary female screw coupling generally provided on theend of ,a hose for connection w h a faucet or the like.

ally outwardly directed flange I and forward of the flange l3 i groovedto provide a groove H. The forward side of the flange 16 is recessed at8 to provide an abutment for a resilient spider l9 preferably comprisinga flat circular piece from which a plurality of arms 20 extend in anoutward and forward direction, the whole being preferably made of springmetal, such, for example, as phosphor bronze.

Surrounding the forwardend of-the member i3 a plurality of independentlymovable arcuate jaws 2!, four in number inthe disclosed embodiment,having at their rear ends inwardly directed flange 22 disposed withinthegroove i7, The-bottom of the groove I! is somewhat wider than theaxial width of the flanges 22 so as to provide ample clearance and therear wall of the groove 8'! preferably slopes baekwardly to facilitateoutward deflection of the jaws 25 about the inner rear edge of theflanges 22 as a fulcrum. The forward end of the groove ll, adjacent thebottom thereof, at 23, slopes forwardly and outwardly to form camsurfaces in such manner that as the jaws ii are forced forwardly theinner and forward edge of the flanges Q2 ride out on the sloping camsurfaces 23 and the jaws are moved outwardly. The length of the flanges22 is sufficiently great to permit them to engage the bottom of thegroove 5?, when they are axially so d sposed as to permit it, and at thejunction of the flanges 22 with the rest of the jaws 21- sloping camsurfaces 26 are formed, preferably parallel to the cam surfaces iii; insuch manner that when the jaws 2! are moved forwardly and the forwardinner edge of the flanges ride out on the cam surfaces 2.3, the jawsalso tend to move outwardly by reason of theengagcrnent of the cam surfaces 2 with the outer edge of the forward wall of the groove H.Preferably directly above the flanges are outwardly projecting lugs 25against the rear surfaces of which the arms 28 of the resilient spider-18 press to urge the jaws 2! forward and hence urge the forward ends ofthe jaws inwardly,

Adjacent their forward ends, the jaws are provided with internal threadsof substantially the same diameter, pitch, and character as the threads21 on the male member IE3 to which the coupling is to be connected.Rear-ward of the threads 2 the jaws arepreferably recessed at 22! toprovideroom for afiexible washer 30 whiohis retained in the coupiil"ober l2 adjacent the .er iii-by the threads 26 of thejaws. Atits for a.end, each of the jaws -24 is formed with an outwardly directed arcuateflange 3i is recessed at-its outer rear edge,

at 32, to form a stop whose surface is of smaller diameter than theouter surface of flange 3|.

The arcuate extent of the jaws 2| at their forlimited by the mutualengagement of "the jaws,

and it will be evident that the jaws will under these circumstances alsoassume positions in .which they form arcs of a common complete Themember |-3, adjacent its forward end, is formed with a r a d i* .Qirclewith the pitch diameter of the threads sub- F stantially equal to thatof the male member i3 tpwhicih the coupling is intended to be attached.Throughout that part of the jaws lying to the rear of the flanges 35 thejaws are of less arcuate extent so as to form slots 29 between the jaws,

u providing ample clearance at the rear of the for deflection thereof.

Surrounding jaws 2.4 is a collar at of axial length preferablyapproximately equal tothatof the j-av s '22. The collar 33 has axiallydirected slots 34 adjacent its rear end, and of dimensions suitable foraccommodating, with clearance, the lugs 25 of the jaws 'Zl' in suchmanner that the collar can, in the untightened condition of thecoupling, be moved axially over the jaws, with the lugs 25 sliding inthe slots .3 3 but in rotativc engagement with the jaws Joy-reason ofthe engag-ement of the side walls of the slots 34 with the lugs 25. Theslots fl i'have only a limited ia'l length, terminating at t'he forwardwalls 35 of the slots whichengage the forward ends of the lugs 25 in therearmost position of the collar 33 and limit the rearward travel thereofrelative to the jaws. The outer wallsof the slots 34 preferably haveclearance-over the outer surfaces of the-lugs 25 inboth the untightenedand tightened conditions of the coupling. The inner surface. 35 of thecollar is preferably cylindrical and of such diameter that it hasclearance over the flanges '3! and also over the rearmost portion 3? ofthe jaws 2 when the coupling is in the untightened condition butrestricts the outward deflection of the jaws upon tightening ofthecoupling. At the rear end of the collar 33, the inner surface thereofis recessed at 38 to providea surface of slightly greater diameter thanthe surface 36 and of slightly greater width than the outer-surface ofthe portion 37. At the rear end, a cylindrical extension 39 of thecollar is, after assembly of the female member, spun in over the rear ofthe jaws 2] all around the collar except at the slots 34. The exteriorsurfaces of the jaws 2! are formed with a groove 4| which preferably hasa sloping rear wall 42 and is deep enough to permit the jaws 2! toexpand outwardly sufficiently far to admit the male member It when thecollar 35 is withdrawn into its rearmost position, as in Fig. 4.

The spring means acting on the rear of the jaws is in the disclosedembodiment in the form of a spider with resilient arms, but it will beevident that other forms of spring means may also be employed to act onthe rear of the jaws, such, for example, as individual coil springs, orother means, disposed between the member l3 and the individual jaws.

The operation of the coupling illustrated in Figs. 1-5 is as follows. Ifit is desired to connect the coupling to the male member In, the collar33 is first moved to its rearmost position relative to the jaws 2|. Inthis position, the forlugs 25.

ward walls 35 of the slots 34 arein engagement with the lugs 25.The'member l3 or the part into which it is screwed is then pushedforward toward the male member I in such a way as to force the femalemember l2 over the threads of, the male member, as illustrated in Fig.4. In this action, the threads 21 of the male member ID engage thethreads 26 of the jaws 2| and spread them, outwardly, the rear end ofthe flanges 22 being forced back to the rear end of the groove i1 andeach jaw fulcruming about the inner rear edge of its flange 22. ,Thespring arms of the spider l9 are deflected as the jaws are expandedoutwardly. The outward deflection of the jaws 2| takes place not only byreason of the cam action of the enteringmale threads on the threads ofthe jaws 2|, but is. also facilitated by the construction wherein thethreads of the jaws 2|,are located at a larger radius .than the ful-'crum point, which is'thebottom of the groove I'L'thus causing anyre'arwardly directed axial force on the threads 26 to produce a turningmoment on each jaw tending to deflect it outwardly.

The female member i2 may be forced over the male member in until the endof the member Ill engages'the washer 30. Since the spring arms 28 arebearing against the backs of the lugs tending to deflect the forwardportions of the jaws 2| inwardly, the jaws immediately and automaticallyclose upon the male member when it is in the coupling as far as it willgo. Generally the threads 26 naturally align with the threads 21, but iftheydo not, it is only necessary to rotate the female member l2 slightlyand the two sets of threads will fall into alignment. An importantfeature of the coupling is that the female member l2 may be vforced'overthe male member H) at an angle thereto, making it unnecessary to alignthe two members before connecting them, this action being possible byvirtue of the fact that the jaws are independently movable in a radialdirection. Another important feature is that the jaws 2! may be openedup for admission of the male member H) by moving the collar33,rearwardly with respect to the member l3. In this action the wallsengage the lugs 25 and first move the jaws re'arwardly until the flanges22 engage the rear wall of the groove N, then tilt the jaws backwardagainst the force of the spring arms 20 so as to deflect the forwardends of the jawsoutwa rdn In this manner, the female coupling member I2may be expanded and placed in position over the threads of the malemember with the end of the male member'against the Washer 313. .When thecollar 33 is released, the jaws will close inwardly upon the threads ofthe male member by reason of the spring arms 20 acting on the backs ofthe It will be noted that inthe outward deflection of the jaws 2|, withthe collar 33 in its rearward position, the forward end of the collar33is received in the groove 4| of the jaws.

After the two members l2 and ill have been connected in the manner abovedescribed and the threads 26 and 2! have been brought into alignment,the coupling may be tightened by moving .the collar 33 to its mostforward position and then rotating it in the proper direction throughsome angle less than a complete turn. When the collar 33 has been movedto its most forward position, and before it has been rotated to tightenthe coupling, the'parts are as illustrated in Fig. 5. The inner forwardedge of each of the flanges 22 is nearthe forward end of the groove- ITat the rear end of the cam surface 23, and the outer edge of the forwardwall ofthe groove 11 is near the forward end of the cam surface 24.There is clearance between the rearmost portion 31 of the jaws and therecessed surface 38 'of the collar, and between the lugs 25 and theouter walls of the slots 34. There is also clearance between the flange3| and the interior surface 36 of the collar. At the forward end 'of thecoupling the jaws form substantially a complete circle around thethreaded male member l0.

' In this condition, the coupling may be tightened by rotating thecollar 33 in a suitable direction through a fraction of one turnrelative to the male member Hi. If the threads on the coupling and malemember are right-hand threads, the collar is rotated in a counter--clockwise direction, as illustrated in Fig. 3. As the collar is rotatedin the tightening direction, the sidewalls of the slots 34 engage thelugs 25 and rotate the jaws 2| together with the collar, the male memberis brought against the washer 30, and further turning screws the jaws 2|forwardly, causing theinner forward edges of the flanges 22 to ride outon the cam surface 23 and the cam surfaces I 24 to ride out over theouter edge of the forward wall of the groove IT. The rear-portions ofthe jaws are in this ,manner expanded outwardly to bring the portions 3!of the jaws into tight contact with the recessed surface 38. At the sametime, the forward portions of the jaws 2| are caused to ride up on thethreads of the male mmeber l0, .as shown in Fig. 1, and bring theflanges 3! into 'tight engagement with the interior surface 36 of thecollar. 33. Continued turning of the collar causes increased tightness"of contact between the engaging surfaces at front and rear of thecoupling and makes a connection which is fluid tight and which cannot"be disconnected without rotation of the collar in the reverse direction.It will be noted that "in the tightened condition of the coupling it isimpossible to move the collar eitherforwardly or back- ,wardly, for thecollar is restricted inmoving forward by engagement of the spun-overportion 4!] with the jaws, while in moving backward the collar isrestricted by the shoulder between the recessed surface 38 and theremaining interior surface 35 of the collar engaging, the'slopingsurface 42. In addition to these restrictions to movement there is agreat frictional force be- ,tween'the collar and thejaws which tends toprevent relative movement. I i

memberthe collar may be moved forward to a position on the step 32 androtated in the usual manner to tighten the coupling. 7 Under suchcircumstances, the forward movement of the collar is restricted byengagement of the forward end of the collar with the shoulder betweenthe urface 32 and the outer surface of the flange 3i and is preventedfrom moving rearwardly by friction between thelcollar and the jaws.

A valuable-feature of my coupling is that, if desired, the collar 33 maybe moved to its forward position and the coupling may then be screwedonto the male member in the same manner as any ordinary screw typecoupling.

When it is desired to disconnect the coupling, the collar 33 is rotatedin the clockwise direction,

in Fig. 3;, through a'fraction ofa turn, the jaws being turned withthecol'lar. This permits the threads 23 to again sink down into thethreads 2-! .and makes it possiblefor the flanges '22 to be movedinwardly to the bottom of the groove I]. 'When the collar has beenrotated through a fraction of a turn in the direction to loosen thecoupling, itmay then be moved rearwardly, the interior surfaceto of thecollar riding up oyer the rearmost portions 3'! of the jaws, and forcingthe flanges 22 to the bottom of the groove H. The rearward movement ofthe collar is continueduntil the walls 35 of the slots 34 engage thelugs 25. The coupling member l2 may then be pulled directly off of themale member to or may be broken off at an angle. In either case,theforward sides of the teeth 2? engage the rear sides of the teeth 26and cause the jaws to be deflected outwardly enough to permit theseparation of the coupling member I2 from the male member 19. In thisoperation, as well as in the operation of connecting the coupling to themale member, it is found thatno damage is done to the threads of eitherthe male .member or the jaws of the coupling. The threads are onlyburnished by rubbing over one another.-

Instead of pullingthe coupling member 2 off of the male member Ill, thecollar 33. may be forced rearwardly to tilt the jaws 2! around the innerrear edges of the flanges 22, against the force of the spring farms to,so as to deflect the forward portions of the jaws outward to such anextent that the coupling member I2 may be removed without dragging theteeth at over the teeth 21, or to such anextent that the pressure on theteeth is considerably reduced. This feature is very useful, particularlyin connection with large couplings.

urging the jaws inwardly. This form of coupling I is shown in rotativeconnection with a member 45 having a fluid passage 46 therethrough'andbearing exteriorthreads M. The member 45 has at its forward end a groove48. Surrounding the forward end of the member 45 are a plurality of,jaws 50., four in number in the disclosed embodiment, having at theirrear ends inwardly directed flanges disposed with clearance within thegroove 48. As in the form of coupling previously described, the forwardportions of the jaws are r internally threaded at 49 to match thethreads" of the male member l to which the coupling is to be connected,and carry outwardly directed flanges 52 each having a stepped outersurface providing a recess 53 The rear wall of the groove 4%! slopesrearwardly to facilitate deflection of the jaws, and a cam surface 54 isprovided at the forward end of the groove 48, as in the previouslydescribed coupling. The jaws also are provided with cam surfaces 55 atthe outer ends of the forward surfaces of the flanges 5| to cooperatewith the outer edge of the forward wall of the groove 43, as abovedescribed. Within the coupling, adjacent the forward end of the member45, is located a resilient washer 59.

The outer surface 56 of the rearmost portion of each of the jaws 5B ispreferably circular except for a lug 5'! which projects outwardlytherefrom. The exterior of each of-the jaws is formed with a groove 58extending from the forward flange 52 to the rearmost portion whichcarries the lug 51. Surrounding the jaws 50 is a collar 60 whichpreferably comprises two parts 6| and 82. The interior of the part 6| isa straight-cylindrical surface 63 with the exception of the rccessedrearmost portion 64- of slightly larger radius and-0f the slots 65adapted to receive with clearance the lugs 51 and extendingcompletelythrough the part 6! in ,an axialdirection. In each of theslots 55 is located a'U-shaped spring 65 of slightly lesswidth than theslot. At the forward end of its outer half, each spring 66 isbentoutwardly at 61 and is clamped at this point between the parts Eland G2of thecollar Eli, the part 62 being pressed over the part 6| tosecurely-connect the parts GI and 62 -and.the springs 86 into one unit.The forward portion 68 of the part 62 extends inwardly to providel a ninterior surface having clearance over the flange 52 in the untightenedcondition of the'coupling The surface 63 likewise. has clearance overtlw surface 56 of the rearmost portion of the jaws.

Thus the collar 60 may, in the 'untightened condition of the coupling,be moved rearwardly and is only limited in its movement by engagement 7of the rear end of the spring 66 withthe rear wall of the groove 58, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The length of the spring 66 is madesuch that when the collar is in its, rearmost position relative to thejaws 50, the jaws are permitted to be deflected outwardly with the for,-

ward portion 68 of the collar being receivedin 4 threaded portions ofthe jaws .50 inwardly; second, they act as a rearward stop for thecollar; third, they act as a forward stop for the collar.

The operation of this form of couplingis similar to that previouslydescribed. In connecting the coupling to the male member Hi, the collar6,6 is moved to. its rearmost position relative to the jaws 50. urgedinwardly by the springs 66 to bring the forward ends and flanges 52 ofthe jaws together so that they form arcs of a common complete circlewith the threads at substantially the same pitch diameteras those of themale member, while slots 69 exist between the rear portions of the jawsto permit deflection thereof. .In this position, the mutual engagementof the jaws adjacent their forward ends prevents the jaws fromcollapsing inwardly at their forward ends. The flanges 5| rest at thebottom of the groove 48. The coupling may then be forced over the malemember In or the jaws 5|] may be deflected outwardly by rearwardmovement of the collar, relative to the member 45 to open the jaws foradmission of the member It], as previously described in connection withthe coupling of Figs.

1-5. After the coupling has been installed on the member H! and thethreads aligned, as previously described, the collar is moved forward asfar as it will go and, for right-hand threads, is rotated through a partof one turn in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in Fig. 7, totighten thecoupling. v

In tightening, the action is very similar to that of the previouslydescribed coupling. The

jaws are moved forward and, as a consequence,

In this position, the jaws- 5!! are ously described.

the rear portions thereof are movedoutwardly by action-of the camsurfaces 54 and 55 into the position shown, wherein the surface 56engages rearward movement of the collar, and the forward portions of thejaws are expanded outwardly to engage the flange-52 with the forwardportion 68 of the collar. If an unusually large thread is encountered onthe male-member, the collar may be engaged by the recess 53, as previ-In loosening and removing the coupling, the collar is .rotated through-afraction. of a turn in the counter-clockwise direction in Fig; 7,, forright-hand threads, and is then moved rearwardly, whereupon the couplingmay be pulled In Figs. 8 and 9 isshown another alternative form ofcoupling having many of the featuresof construction of the previouslydescribed couplings, but having still another type of spring means forurging the jaws inwardly. This form of couplingis also adapted to beconnectedtothe male member I and is shown as being rotatively attachedto a member 15 having a fluid passage 16 therethrough and beinginternally threaded at H. The member i has adjacent its forward end anannular groove 18 with a' rearwardly sloping rear wall and with a camsurface 80 similar tothe couplings previously described. Surrounding theforward end of the member are a plurality of jaws 8|, four in number inthe disclosed embodiment, having at their rear ends inwardly directedflanges 82 disposed within the groove 18. Each of the jaws 8| is formedto provide av cam surface 83 adjacent theflange 82, as in the couplingspreviously described. The forward portions of the jaws are provided withinternal threads 84 matching thethreads 21 of the male member ID. At theforward end of each jaw is an outwardly directed flange 85 having" atits rear a recess 86.

The outer surface 8'1 of the'rearmost portion of each of the jaws 8i ispreferably circular except for a lug 88 which projects outwardly therefrom. The exterior of each of the jaws is formed with a groove 98preferably having a relatively steeply slopingrearjwall joining thesurfaces! and a forward wall sloping relatively gently to the is arelatively stiff split spring wire 9| surrounding all the jaws 8i andurginggthem inwardly. Surrounding the jaws is a collar 92 having vaninterior surface 93 which has clearance overboth off of the male memberor removed by first spreading the jaws, all as previously described.

flange 85. At theportion of smallestdiameter the flange 85 and'thesurface 81. in the untightened condition'ofthe coupling. At the rear endof the jaws the surface 93 is enlarged to provide a surface 94 ofslightly greater radius than the surface 93 and having an axial extentsomewhat greater than the surface 81. Slots 95 are formed in the rear ofthe collar 92 to receive, with'clearance, the lugs 88, the slotsextending axially only part way through the collar. An axially directedextension is preferably spun inwardly to form a stop 96- which limitsthe forward movement of the collar relative to the jaws. It will beevident that the collar 92 is similarto the collar 33 of the coupling ofFigs. 1-5. A resilient washer 9'! is located within the couplingadjacent the forward end of the member 15. v v

In the untightened condition of thecoupling, the jaws Bl, urged inwardlyby; the spring 91, assume positions, determined by engagement of theforward portions of the jaws with one another, wherein the jaws formarcs of a common circle with the threads on substantiallypthe same pitchdiameter as those of the male member. By reason of the narrower arcuateextent of the jaws in their rear portions, slots 89 are formed betweenthe rear portions of the jaws which provide ample clearance fordeflection of the jaws.

The operation of this form of coupling is the same as that of Figs. 1-5.To connect the coupling to the male member I, the collar 92 is broughtto the rearmost position relative to the jaws 8!, in which position therear walls of the slots 95 engagethe lugs 88-, and the coupling is thenforced over the member I or the jaws are opened up by rearward movementof the. collar relative to. the member if to admit the member [0, aspreviously described. When the male member IE! is in position againstthe washer 9'! and the threads are aligned, the collar :92 is movedforwardly until the stop; 96 engages the rear faces of the jaws, aspreviously described. To tighten thecoupling, the collar 92 .is thenrotated through afra'ction of a turn in the clockwise direction, inFig;9, for right-hand threads,

to bring the flange tightly into engagement with the surface $53 of thecollar and the surface 81 tightly into engagementwith the recess 94position and the coupling is removed from the member I0 in the samemanner asthe couplings previously described. i i

In all of the couplings herein describedthe-jaws are resiliently urgedinwardly 7 into positions wherein they form'arcs of acommon circle withthe threads at substantially the same pitch-diameter as those of themalemember to Which the coupling isrto be connected. When the couplingisput on a male, member, therefore, the jaws automatically engage it. andthe greatest convenience in operation results; H In the three forms ofcoupling, described herein the principal difference is in the springmeans for urging the jaws inwardly. All three of the forms disclosedherein have the jaws and collar rotatively connected by means of lugsonthe jaws which are slideable in slots in the collar. Many oftheieatures of construction of the couplings disclosed herein, however,are also applicable to the type of co'upling disclosed in my co-pendingapplication, above referred to, in which the jaws arerotativelyconnected to the collar by means of logs which lie in slotsbetween the jaws.

In any of the couplings disclosed herein the washer may be dispensedwith, if desired, and the forward end UI'HlB member on which thecoupling s rotatac y mountedmay be provided with a seat" similar totnoseempioye'o' in valves,

and the end or tneiiiaie memoer'to which the coupling is to be connectedmay be shaped to cooperate with this seat so that when the coupi ng istightened it will be fluid-tight.

a It is understood that various changes and modifications in design andconstruction from the couplings disclosed herein may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the in vention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim asmy invention: 1. A coupling for connecting a first member witha second member; said second member being externally threaded,comprising: walls on said first member forming an external groove; aplurality of jaws internally threaded at their forward ends and havingadjacent their rear ends inwardly directed flanges rotatablydisposed insaid groove; walls on said jaws forming an external annular groove andan outwardly di- 3 rected flange at the forward end of each of saidjaws; means resiliently urging said jaws radially inward; lugsprojecting outwardly from said Jaws; an axially movable collarsurrounding said jaws and having slots therein in which saidlugs 1 areslideably disposed to permit axial movement of said collar relative tosaid jaws, saidcollar being adapted in its mostforward position 'torestrict outward deflection of said laws by engagement therewith at bothforward and rear ends of said jaws; and walls forming on the interiorsurface of saidcollar a shoulder located forward of the rear engagingportions 'of said jaws acting as a stop to prevent rearward movement ofthe collar in the tightened condition of the 0011- 1 pling.

2. A coupling for connection with a threaded male member, comprising: aplurality of-internally threaded jaws independently defiectable in aradial direction, said jaws having-form'edthereon an external-annulargroove and forward of said groove an outwardly directed flange on-eachof said jaws having a stepped outer surface; means. resiliently urgingsaid jaws inward; and afcollar axially slideable butinrotativeconnection'with said jaws, said collar being axially movableto arear-position in which said jaws ar'edeflectable outwardly over thethreads of said male memben-theforward end of said collarbeingreceivedinsaid groove, and-saidcollar being movable to either of two forwardpositions wherein outward deflection of said jaws due to rotation ofsaid collar brings into engagement with the interior surface of saidcollar, respectively, the steps of said'outer surface of said flanges I3.-A coupling for connecting a first member with a second member-,saidsecond member beab disposed .i said r ov th r b in iormepl a th inwardsur ac o eachn i iian s a secon 2 m surf ce adiaq the o e ed e of the iqw Wa l sai ro s d e nd 9am surfaces sloping outwardly and forwardly;resilient means urging the forward ends of said jaws radially inwardfandan axially movable collar surrounding said jaws rotativc' connectiontherewith, said c'ollarbeir'ig axially movable to" 'a rear position inwhich the threaded portions 01% said jaws'are deflectable over thethreads of said annular second member, and said collar being axiallymovable-to a forward'position inwhich 'thz-collfir res't'ricts J theout'viiard move'ment of said saws both the forward and rear ends thereoftbtleis than thedepth-of threads on saidscndqnember, said fir-st andsecond caml surfaces-{cooperating "with the -'opposing surfaces of--said 'vflanges --and said forward wall of=said1grooi e,.arspectivelytomo-vethe-rear endsiofk'said gi'awsmlitwardly upon" forward movement.of's'aidr jawsi-incident to tightening of said couplinglby rot ation jzolablydisposed in saidgrobve; a member rotatably supported on :sa'i-dfirst .member.;and carry-v -.in'g resilien,t arms hearing. axiallyQnithfi irflq ends of said .jawsdn' such manner as toilrgeithe.reariends oftsaid jaws :forward and :hence the -forward lends of;,said. jaws -.-radially xinward; .ran axially movable. collarsurrounding;saidij-awsgand adapted in a .rear. positigmto-pfirmit the ig wfltfl threaded portions .of .said (jaws .to be deflected outwardly.over the :threads of .said accolade-memher, and in. a.forward-.position-zto; restrict: the-out- .warddeflection; ofrsaidijawsiin 110 mannera ha Y rotation of:,said' Jaws in ;a idirect qnziendin r-to screw rsaid lcoupling. onto said segnndyrmembgrtightens.saidlcoupl. ng-

,5. A .coupling 7 for connecting, ,a lfirst imembflr with a secondmember, said second memberzbeing externally ithrjeaded, '.comprising.::walls. .on'

.said first member qf-orming an .external annular groove; a plurality.of jaws, internally threaded ,adjacentjtheir forward .ends .and;:having..-adiacent their ,rear iendsjinwazidly (directed :flanges:rotatably disposed intsaidgroove; said jaws lb-Bing formed with anexternal annular groove; :lugs projec n outward y i qm said Ja s; anaxial y m vabl rco a rsurronndine said iaws and-ha n e otsinerain inwnic lsa d dues, are-sl d ah y 411snosed: toenermit a3 relative 3 0 said.ia stand ha ed sh nes .atacbedto id Cella Within i-sa d :s t..:.a 1:beain onrsaidi wsavith lasaid ergo Qnise d :iaw .t nrea eid- .ws radial inard dtq llarzhein mova le t a ear ipositig idet rmined invenv a e neat41in ar and of sa d. s

the .zrearv wa i remove 19.1 ai1?-iaW;.-invwhi h zm ition :t ip wardends ';Q 1 flaws silec h u wand ;oxe jib H m ma mtbe ie iwa dren DI andcol a A ein Re eived inert al-argue a .sa d Jaws, and-said c ll r mar-my.ensaeexnemo isais .springswith the. :iorward rwall ofsaid groove .on

'said..-jaw in which -nasitionsaid collar. restricts the outward:moremen of. said. jaws to ;less :than the depth of itnreadston .saidsecond member.

MILLIaMe. er.

a .of sa ,ca la rings. with einamo a ejto rqn-

